Graduate groups combine the talents and skills of faculty from a broad range of research areas to allow learning from a network of diverse scholars to afford students opportunities outside traditional department structures.
- Animal Behavior Graduate Group
The Davis campus has a distinguished history of teaching and research in the life sciences including animal behavior. The Animal Behavior Graduate Group is an interdepartmental program in which faculty members from several departments, schools, and colleges participate. Members of the Group employ a wide range of animal species in their research as well as a diversity of theoretical and methodological approaches.
Degrees Offered:
M.S. Plan II
under special circumstances only
Ph.D. Plan C- Applied Mathematics Graduate Group
Students gain advanced knowledge of differential geometry; topology; differential equations; solid and fluid dynamics; biology; atmospheric sciences; mechanics; optimization and control; theoretical chemistry; computer and engineering sciences; mathematical physics; signal and image processing; harmonic analysis, numerical analysis and nonlinear partial differential equations; and applied mathematical analysis. Students graduate with the qualitative and quantitative skills necessary for professional research and teaching in applied mathematics.
Degrees Offered:
M.S. Plan I
M.S. Plan II
Ph.D. Plan B- Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Graduate Group
Students gain advanced knowledge of biochemistry; molecular biology; cell and developmental biology; as well as interdisciplinary approaches that combine biology, genetics, chemistry, physics, engineering, math and/or computational approaches. Students graduate with the qualitative and quantitative skills necessary for professional research and teaching in fundamental biological problems at the organismal, cellular and molecular levels. Please note: While an M.S. degree may be obtained while pursuing a Ph.D. degree, only Ph.D. applications will be accepted.
Degrees Offered:
M.S. Plan I
under special circumstances only
M.S. Plan II
under special circumstances only
Ph.D. Plan B- Biomedical Engineering Graduate Group
Students gain advanced knowledge of the modeling of biological systems, and the design of devices and procedures useful for human and veterinary medicine. Students graduate with the qualitative and quantitative skills necessary for professional research and teaching in the integration of engineering with biological and medical sciences. A strong background in mathematics and engineering is highly recommended.
Degrees Offered:
M.S. Plan I
M.S. Plan II
Ph.D. Plan C- Biophysics Graduate Group
Students gain advanced knowledge of the physical laws governing the properties and interaction of biomolecules and cells; structural biology; membrane dynamics; ion transport; electron transfer; nuclei acid; applied optics; computational biology; cellular regulation; and imaging. Students graduate with the qualitative and quantitative skills necessary for professional research and teaching in biophysics.
Degrees Offered:
M.S. Plan I
under special circumstances only
M.S. Plan II
under special circumstances only
Ph.D. Plan B- Ecology Graduate Group
Students gain advanced knowledge in one of the following areas: agricultural ecology; conservation ecology; ecological genomics and genetics; ecosystems and landscape ecology; ecotoxicology; environmental policy & human ecology; integrative ecology; marine ecology; physiological ecology; or restoration ecology. Students graduate with the qualitative and quantitative skills necessary for professional research and teaching in ecological theory and its applications.
Degrees Offered:
M.S. Plan I
M.S. Plan II
Ph.D. Plan B- Education Graduate Group
The Education Ph.D. program critically engages students in contemporary issues that impact education research, policy and practice. Emphasizing collaboration, the program is an interdisciplinary graduate group that draws its faculty from diverse fields of education, humanities, social science, physical and biological sciences, mathematics, and medicine, and engages with key campus centers and programs, such as the M.I.N.D. Institute and the Poverty Center. Graduates of our program gain deep knowledge of educational theory and practice related to strengthening schools and other educational settings. Our close proximity to California’s state capital of Sacramento also affords students a rich set of opportunities and networks for influencing education policy.
Degrees Offered:
Ph.D. Plan B
- Integrative Genetics and Genomics Graduate Group
Students in Integrative Genetics and Genomics experience an unsurpassed breadth of research and instructional opportunities from the most fundamental to applied aspects of genetics. They gain advanced knowledge of the application of genomic, molecular, and classical genetic approaches to study model organisms, a broad range of native and agricultural species, humans, and companion animals. Our graduates leave our program with the qualitative and quantitative skills necessary for professional research and teaching in genetics.
Degrees Offered:
M.S. Plan I
M.S. Plan II
Ph.D. Plan B- Microbiology Graduate Group
This interdisciplinary group, consisting of over 70 faculty members from various academic departments, sponsors a Ph.D. program in Microbiology. The primary benefit is promoting collaborations beyond traditional departmental barriers, offering graduate students flexibility and breadth in research problem identification and mutual faculty interests. Additionally, students can establish departmental affiliations within the graduate group, enhancing their academic experience.
Degrees Offered:
M.S. Plan I
Ph.D. Plan B- Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology Graduate Group
The MCIP Graduate Group offers a comprehensive program of courses and outstanding research opportunities leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees, and it participates in joint Ph.D./M.D. and Ph.D./D.V.M. programs. The campuswide nature of the group provides the program with exceptional diversity and accommodates students with a broad spectrum of interests, including interdisciplinary approaches. These include the general areas of cellular/molecular physiology and systemic physiology as well as the more specialized cardiovascular physiology, comparative physiology, endocrinology, exercise physiology, neurophysiology, reproductive physiology, and the physiology of domestic animals.
Degrees Offered:
M.S. Plan I
M.S. Plan II
Ph.D. Plan B- Neuroscience Graduate Group
Students gain advanced knowledge of molecular biophysics of channels and receptors through motor control; neuroethology; retinal organization; development of visual systems; cortical organization; and cognitive functions. Students graduate with the qualitative and quantitative skills necessary for professional research and teaching regarding nerve cells and the ways they are organized to form nervous systems that mediate behavior.
Degrees Offered:
M.S. Plan I
under special circumstances only
M.S. Plan II
under special circumstances only
Ph.D. Plan B- Physics Graduate Program
Students gain advanced knowledge of classical physics, quantum mechanics, and statistical mechanics. Students graduate with the qualitative and quantitative skills necessary for applying physics understanding to professional research and teaching in physics.
Degrees Offered:
M.S. Plan I
M.S. Plan II
Ph.D. Plan B- Plant Biology Graduate Group
The Plant Biology Graduate Group at UC Davis offers interdisciplinary training in plant biology. The vertical organization of research in the group allows students to study plants at levels of inquiry ranging from molecules to populations. Although research training is focused primarily on acquiring basic knowledge, a diverse plant science community on campus allows opportunities for exposure to and participation in research with applied goals.
Degrees Offered:
M.S. Plan I
under special circumstances only
M.S. Plan II
under special circumstances only
Ph.D. Plan B- Population Biology Graduate Group
Students gain advanced knowledge of population growth; structure and dynamics; population interactions; community ecology; food webs; biogeography; behavioral and physiological ecology; life history strategies; systematics; evolution; population and quantitative genetics; and genomics. Students graduate with the qualitative and quantitative skills necessary for professional research and teaching in ecology, evolution, population genetics and systematics.
Degrees Offered:
M.S. Plan I
under special circumstances only
M.S. Plan II
under special circumstances only
Ph.D. Plan B- Psychology Graduate Program
Students gain advanced knowledge of psychology theory including developmental; perception, cognition and cognitive neuroscience; psychobiology; social-personality; and quantitative. Students graduate with the qualitative and quantitative skills necessary for professional research and teaching in psychology.
Degrees Offered:
M.S. Plan I
under special circumstances only
M.S. Plan II
under special circumstances only
Ph.D. Plan B